Before GPS came built into our phones and cars, many of us relied on printed directions from MapQuest. You’d enter your destination, print out a list of step-by-step instructions, and hope you didn’t miss a turn—because if you did, rerouting wasn’t an option.
If you happened to miss an exit or take a wrong turn, you had to rely on your own (sometimes questionable) sense of direction to get back on track. But even MapQuest was just a moment in time in the broader evolution of geospatial technology.
Today, we’re diving into the roots and remarkable growth of geospatial technologies—exploring everything from ancient navigation tools to satellites, drones, and AI.
If you’ve ever used GPS to get around, you’re not alone—93% of people have. That everyday convenience is just one example of geospatial technology in action. But its uses go far beyond road trips.
Geospatial technology refers to the tools and methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret data about the Earth’s surface. This includes information from satellites, drones, remote sensors, and mapping systems, used in everything from city planning to climate research.
As high-speed data networks and computing power have advanced, so has the complexity and precision of geospatial tools. Today, these technologies support global efforts in fields like environmental conservation, military intelligence, disease tracking, and infrastructure development.
Let’s take a brief look at geospatial-related tools and technologies of centuries past.
Cartography, or mapmaking, dates back to the B.C. era. Early maps were often based on explorers’ accounts and typically depicted the world as a flat disc, showing only the continents now known as Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Americas, Australia, and Antarctica had yet to be discovered.
The magnetic compass was developed in China around the time of the transition from the B.C. era to the A.D. era. It enabled more accurate navigation, especially at sea, and became essential for global exploration.
Atlases, or collections of maps, were first published in the 16th century. They helped standardize geographic knowledge and made it more accessible to scholars and explorers alike.
The first fully functional telescope is believed to have been invented in 1608. It allowed astronomers and navigators to observe distant objects, improving both celestial mapping and navigation accuracy.
The sextant, invented in the mid 1700s, is a tool used to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial object like the sun or stars. It helped sailors figure out their exact position at sea and was a major breakthrough in navigation long before GPS existed.
The development of photography in the 19th century paved the way for more detailed and precise ways of gathering geospatial information.
As early as the 1860s, balloons, kites, and even birds were fitted with cameras, enabling people to capture views of cities and topographical features from the air. Planes were used for this purpose beginning in the early 1900s.
The first manmade satellite was launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. Satellites have since been used for military surveillance, cartography, and communications.
If you’ve ever seen a person standing on the side of the road, wearing a bright safety vest, looking through an instrument on a tripod, that may not have been a camera or a telescope they were using.
The total station has been around since 1971 and is used to measure distance and vertical and horizontal angles. It’s commonly used in civil engineering, construction, and surveying and can assist in making maps, identifying property lines, and determining precisely where a new road or building should be located.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), GPS is “a satellite-based navigation system that helps people find their precise location on Earth.” GPS technology as we know it today began as a DOD project in 1973. It was initially reserved for military use, but in 2000 it became available to anyone with the necessary equipment after President Clinton issued an executive order.
The contemporary total station integrates technological advances such as robotics, GPS, and remote-control capabilities. Data from these total stations can be downloaded and used with software to render vivid 3D images.
Unmanned, remote-controlled aircraft, sometimes called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), have been used for military purposes and surveying/mapmaking for many years. 2006 marked the first use of drones for other commercial and personal purposes, such as delivery and photography.
As with many industries, artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionized the GIS and geospatial sectors. Identifying topographic features in satellite images is just one of many current AI applications, and its future potential in the geospatial field is tremendous.
The University of Texas Permian Basin has served the GIS and geospatial industries for more than 20 years. Our close association has given UT Permian Basin an up-to-date, insider’s perspective of the industry that we’ve drawn upon in creating the curriculum for our online GIS and Geospatial Certificate.
This 12-credit graduate certificate program helps you develop practical skills that can benefit individuals in the oil and gas industry, the geospatial industry, and environmentally oriented careers. In just four courses, you’ll explore the technology, practices, and principles at work in the geospatial industry today.
Delivered through asynchronous, 100% online courses, our graduate program provides you with exceptional convenience and flexibility. You can complete coursework on your own schedule, practically anywhere, enabling you to learn around any job or family responsibilities you might have. Each course lasts eight weeks and is taught by the same acclaimed educators who teach the courses at the UT Permian Basin campus.
Explore today’s GIS and geospatial technology and trends as you gain a career-enhancing credential in our online GIS and Geospatial Certificate program!
Sources:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-history-of-cartography-1435696
https://www.gislounge.com/mapping-through-the-ages
https://www.aaas.org/programs/scientific-responsibility-human-rights-law/overview-geospatial-project
https://eos.com/blog/geospatial-technology
https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/geospatial-technology-and-the-future-of-the-city
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